I'm probably the only one here swimming countercurrent on any finish discussion. But let me say this, if you're just building (anything) to "good enough" standards, then you really ought to try for a "good" standard.
Not tiny house..........tiny boat
- Thread starter jdupre'
- Start date
Seedtick, my main complaint with the time, work and expense of a really good varnish job is reality. Knowing that the first trip out in your pristine creation may (will??) result in one or more nicks and scrapes makes that time and effort seem futile. Pretty soon, the million dollar finish is demoted to a less-than-pristine status. Then.......guess what............MORE sanding , varnishing , sanding , varnishing....... Not worth it to me. Your mileage may vary. Chocolate and vanilla.
Good enough for the intended job IS good. I'd wager 99% of all wooded boats built in the last several thousand years were built to "good enough" standards. Not "just barely enough to get the job donee" , but good enough to do the job well and last a reasonable amount of time.
Good enough for the intended job IS good. I'd wager 99% of all wooded boats built in the last several thousand years were built to "good enough" standards. Not "just barely enough to get the job donee" , but good enough to do the job well and last a reasonable amount of time.
You are absolutely correct - it's chocolate and vanilla
but for me, I'm also showcasing the old wood, I would not varnish plywood. I typically hot coat the first 2 or 3 coats of varnish, then do a good sanding. After that that it's scuff sand and a coat of varnish. Takes less that 20 minutes to scuff and put on a coat of varnish.
The coating - paint or varnish - protects the wood from water intrusion. A scratched up varnish finish is no better protection than a scratched up paint finish. The effort to keep both "pristine" is the same.
BTW I've got your swamp mallow seeds and a piece of steel from a McDonough band saw mill blade. If you're in this area give me a call or I'll bring them next Feb
but for me, I'm also showcasing the old wood, I would not varnish plywood. I typically hot coat the first 2 or 3 coats of varnish, then do a good sanding. After that that it's scuff sand and a coat of varnish. Takes less that 20 minutes to scuff and put on a coat of varnish.
The coating - paint or varnish - protects the wood from water intrusion. A scratched up varnish finish is no better protection than a scratched up paint finish. The effort to keep both "pristine" is the same.
BTW I've got your swamp mallow seeds and a piece of steel from a McDonough band saw mill blade. If you're in this area give me a call or I'll bring them next Feb
Thanks. I might just make a run up to your place. I've been thinking about making a couple more knives and that band saw blade would be just the ticket.
I'm mostly impatient when it comes to applying a finish. By that point, I'm ready to be "finished" and try the boat out.
I'm mostly impatient when it comes to applying a finish. By that point, I'm ready to be "finished" and try the boat out.
Well, the little boat has gone off to a new home. I sold it to a friend of my next door neighbor. Pretty talented carpenter.........and a woman. I've seen her cabinet work at the neighbors house and she's mighty good at it. I had a lot of fun building the boat, learned a couple of design pros and cons, found a pretty serviceable clear finish and almost doubled the money I had in it. Fair enough.
Now .........what,s next ........... Ah, yes ............what's next? ( rubbing hands together with a mildly evil look in my eyes. HA! )
Seedtick, if the offer of the mallow seeds and the band saw blade is still good, could you bring them to the Fling? Thanks.
Now .........what,s next ........... Ah, yes ............what's next? ( rubbing hands together with a mildly evil look in my eyes. HA! )
Seedtick, if the offer of the mallow seeds and the band saw blade is still good, could you bring them to the Fling? Thanks.
Joey, maybe you could build something submersible? With, say a periscope and toroedo tubes?
"This is your Captain speaking. Close all screen doors and windiws! This peerow IS submerging!"
Ahh OOgah! AhhhOOOOgag!
Just a thought
"This is your Captain speaking. Close all screen doors and windiws! This peerow IS submerging!"
Ahh OOgah! AhhhOOOOgag!
Just a thought
Since it seems that I can get pics to "stick", I'll go back and put in a few pics of my builds.
8 feet long by 27.5 " across the bottom with 10" sides . Kinda small but surprisingly seaworthy for calm waters. Just another itch I had to scratch.
I've mixed mortat and concrete, in boxes of about those dimensions. Measure in the cement, gravel, and water, and then start mixing with a garden hoe. My sloppy attempts at laying blocks were so sloppy, that I was demoted from water boy, to mortarmixer. sigh
The shame of it all.
In your calm waters, and being careful to not lean very much in any direction, your tiny boat would work. Oh, one other concern. Those water lizards?
The shame of it all.
In your calm waters, and being careful to not lean very much in any direction, your tiny boat would work. Oh, one other concern. Those water lizards?
Good Idea. I noticed some of my previous post have "lost" the pictures. I'll see if I can add the pics back on.